Hononegah cheerleaders eye state

Hononegah’s cheerleaders are eyeing a return to the IHSA state meet after a three-year absence when the Indians compete Saturday at the Belvidere Sectional.

Brenda Young

Hononegah’s cheerleaders are eyeing a return to the IHSA state meet after a three-year absence when the Indians compete Saturday at the Belvidere Sectional.

Last Saturday, the Indians won the NIC-10 conference title aided by a difficult routine.

First-year coach Calianne Myers said this Saturday’s routine will be even tougher with additional tumbling and more stunts.

“I am putting a lot of expectations on them for this weekend,” said Myers, whose teams have scored 83 or better in IHSA-sponsored competitions based on a 100-point scale. “We are changing things around this week based on the judges comments as we hope to be among the teams to go to state.”

The conference title was the start of a big weekend for the Indians, who came back on Sunday to win a meet in Romeoville. It was Hononegah’s third tourney title this season. They also won the Rockford East tournament, and finished fourth at a meet at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, the site of the state tournament.

“The meet in Bloomington was our first of the season, and I think the team was still trying to get to know each other,” Myers said. “It was a lot of first performances for many of the girls. They didn’t know what to expect. The place was very large for them, but I threw it at them anyway to get them used to that.”

The Indians will be among 61 teams competing at the Belvidere Sectional, which consists of four divisions: small, medium, large and co-ed. Hononegah must finish in the top 5 in the co-ed division to earn a berth in the state meet on Feb. 6-7 in Bloomington.

Myers said she is confident about her team’s chances as the Indians prepare to battle in a 12-team field that includes Belvidere, Belvidere North and defending co-ed champion Elk Grove.

“I told them it’s not about trying to beat other teams, it’s about beating ourselves,” Myers said.

Staff writer Brenda Young can be reached at 815-987-1388 or byoung@rrstar.com.

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